#29
Mark Ronson
"Uptown Funk" (ft. Bruno Mars)





Bruno had already gone to the funk throwback route with the surprisingly great 'Treasure' in 2013, but it's all taken to another level on 'Uptown Funk', Mark Ronson's killer comeback single. Bruno throwing himself into this with aplomb, along with a memorable dum-dum-dum bassline groove, a horn-accompanied chorus/breakdown section; all the makings of an instant smash hit

#28
Lebanon Hanover
"Gallowdance"





a hazy coldwave track that gave me a great result in the inaugural bjsc nuggets earlier this year. one highlight is the fantastic riff, dripped in melancholia, that jumps in a few times. a quick research throws up a description of a "gallowdance" as 'people jerking about while being hanged'. Sounds about right.

#27
Charli XCX
"Boom Clap"





Charli actually getting a proper chart smash? Indeed it happened. Boom Clap lives up to its title somewhat with a punchy production and an explosive chorus. I do slightly miss the gothic-tinged synth pop of her pre-'SuperLove' singles, but 'Boom Clap' does the trick in giving Charli a defining pop moment all the same

#26
Ephera
"Alaska"





I do remember first coming across this in 2013, but it was only by summer '14 that I fully embraced this lovely dose of chillstep. A dialogue section (that could seem quite jarring, but does add to the appeal in an odd way) leads to an atmospheric blending of great vocal samples, and a few cool sound effects, one of which sounds like small shreds of glass being scrunched up. it also gave me my best Unknown Pleasures result yet, glad plenty of voters there appreciated it as much as I did

#25
Elliphant
"One More" (ft. MØ)





a combined effort from Elliphant and MØ that quickly won me over in the autumn months. for the most part quite an understated, cold pop track, before a flurry synths barge in eventually, giving MØ the chance to yell "one more!!" "it's not a big deal!!!" in the background

#24
Watermat
"Bullit"




the 'house boom' of sorts lead to a few rather interesting and bizarre chart hits (another of which we'll get to later~) from that genre. this one sees a vocal-less track lead by a sunbaked synth line and flute, before a series of AIR HORNS barge in! infectious, summery and somewhat strange- more chart hits of this kind next year please!

Alaska is a really beautiful piece of music, really took me by surprise when I first heard it but it all fits together so well (even the monologue, sets the tone very well), great to see Ariana & The Rose in here as well <3

 

I heard Bullit the other day after not recalling it from BJSC or the charts and I really loved it - just can't believe it's only hit me now, where's it been all of my year? :lol: :(

 

 

liking uptown funk at the moment, praying it doesn't become the next happy/all of me but expecting the worst.

 

bullit is a fantastic instrumental too, much prefer it to walking with elephants although the latter is nice too.

#23
TR/ST
"Capitol"





a second appearance for TR/ST comes with "Capitol", a former #1 for me, and in my opinion the big highlight of Joyland. some utterly euphoric synth pop; a fabulous chorus, and a melody tinged with optimism, contrary to Robert's deadpan delivery on the verses.

SICK countdown! :music: :wub:

Yesss, 'Uptown Funk' so high here already :D

 

For some reason, I didn't expect 'Boom Clap' to be so high though :o

#22
Henry Saiz
"All The Evil Of This World"





originally from 2013, but like most people here only came to my attention through BJSC, one of Aeroche's many 'highs' this year. such an emotionally striking track!

#21
Perfume Genius
"Queen"





DON'T YOU KNOW YOUR QUEEN?

i'd at first assumed the lyric there was "you're", but looking deeper it actually is "your queen"- Mike Hadreas (a.k.a. Perfume Genius) seems to be positioning himself as a leader of sorts? (a ruthless one at that, "no family is safe, when I sashay" :wub:)

a bold track, and one that really brought my attention to an artist i hadn't looked into much previously!

#20
Gazelle Twin
"Belly of the Beast"





i'll take it like milk from a baabyyyy

a spine-tinglingly strange track with an equally strange video that (to no real surprise) became a slight favourite of mine earlier on in the year. the whole track feels really quite lo-fi, has these glitchy electronic beats, mostly-whispered and unusual lyrics and supermarket checkout samples. what's not to appreciate really?

#19
Zhala
"Prophet"





Swedish newcomer Zhala brought us "Prophet", a mystifying pop track that feels like it was born from another universe entirely. some ominous synths, and a rave-style riff towards the very end that speeds up each time in a breathtaking finale!

#18
La Roux
"Let Me Down Gently"





Standing out from the tropical vibe of (amazing) comeback album 'Trouble in Paradise', was the first taster from said album, "Let Me Down Gently"; coated in 80s synthesisers, while being quite stark and understated, it's her vocal performance here that makes it so captivating (in a way that oddly reminds me of Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U"). The mid-song transition kicks everything into a more upbeat mode, bringing in some light sax in the background. essential track from an essential album <3

#17
Clean Bandit
"Rather Be" (ft. Jess Glynne)





so it's on to one of the uk's most ubiquitous tracks of 2014~ Clean Bandit produce a bright, plinky-plonky house track (with added strings, of course), and with a hugely memorable chorus this almost FEELS like their big attempt at a pop crossover hit (regardless, they obtained just that, to say the least~)






also this....




:music: PARTYSQUAD, OH MY GOD :music:

I have so much to catch up on here eek. Will briefly express my love for 'One More' and 'Belly of the Beast' and focus the rest on 'Let Me Down Gently'. I love your commentary for it, because it really is an essential track. I don't even care that it wasn't met with the commercial success it deserved, I'm just happy that after 5 years they returned with something as strong as this. The vocals, as you said, but also the lyrics; effortless perfection. :heart:

#16
Vic Mensa
"Down On My Luck"





one of my favourite tracks of the summer, Vic Mensa's breakthrough single brings an infectious mix of quickfire verses (Mensa spits these lines so fast it's like they're almost blending into one big sentence!), with a Disclosure-lite production and unorthodox hooks giving the track a more accessible feel

#63

Tiga

"Bugatti"

 

 

Big up Bugatti!